The tragic suicide of 19-year-old UK Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, following a sexual assault by a senior officer, was significantly influenced by the British Army’s mishandling of her complaints, concluded Assistant Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg.
Beck, who was found deceased at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire after a festive gathering, had reported an assault by Battery Sergeant Major Michael Webber, who attempted to force himself upon her during a work-related social event.
Rheinberg determined that Beck’s demise was a suicide and articulated that the Army’s approach to her complaint had a substantial contributory role.
Acknowledging the failings, the Army expressed remorse, with Alistair Carns, the minister for veterans and people, affirming the service’s commitment to learning from the incident to prevent future occurrences.
The inquest revealed that Beck also endured persistent harassment from her line manager, Bombardier Ryan Mason, who bombarded her with over 4,600 messages and shared a detailed “love story” about his feelings for her. This harassment was described as relentless and unbearable, adding to the pressures faced by Beck.
In light of these events, the Army has vowed to make systemic changes, including ensuring female representation on all court martial boards and revising strategies for handling serious sexual offences within the Service Justice System.
These efforts are part of a broader commitment to instilling a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual misconduct and enhancing the support and protection offered to service members.
